Cardio-oncology care in the era of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic: An International Cardio-Oncology Society (ICOS) statement.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has given rise to a pandemic of unprecedented proportions in the modern era because of its highly contagious nature and impact on human health and society: coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Patients with cardiovascular (CV) risk factors and established CV disease (CVD) are among those initially identified at the highest risk for serious complications, including death. Subsequent studies have pointed out that patients with cancer are also at high risk for a critical disease course. Therefore, the most vulnerable patients are seemingly those with both cancer and CVD, and a careful, unified approach in the evaluation and management of this patient population is especially needed in times of the COVID-19 pandemic. This review provides an overview of the unique implications of the viral outbreak for the field of cardio-oncology and outlines key modifications in the approach to this ever-increasing patient population. These modifications include a shift toward greater utilization of cardiac biomarkers and a more focused CV imaging approach in the broader context of modifications to typical practice pathways. The goal of this strategic adjustment is to minimize the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection (or other future viral outbreaks) while not becoming negligent of CVD and its important impact on the overall outcomes of patients who are being treated for cancer.

Equity in Cardio-Oncology Care and Research: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association.

Advances in cancer therapeutics have revolutionized survival outcomes in patients with cancer. However, cardiovascular toxicities associated with specific cancer therapeutics adversely affect the outcomes of patients with cancer. Recent studies have uncovered excess risks of these cardiotoxic events, especially in traditionally underrepresented populations. Despite advances in strategies to limit the risks of cardiovascular events among cancer survivors, relatively limited guidance is available to address the rapidly growing problem of disparate cardiotoxic risks among women and underrepresented patient populations. Previously decentralized and sporadic evaluations have led to a lack of consensus on the definitions, investigation, and potential optimal strategies to address disparate cardiotoxicity in contemporary cancer care (eg, with immunotherapy, biologic, or cytotoxic therapies) settings. This scientific statement aims to define the current state of evidence for disparate cardiotoxicity while proposing uniform and novel methodological approaches to inform the identification and mitigation of disparate cardio-oncology outcomes in future clinical trials, registries, and daily clinical care settings. We also propose an evidence-based integrated approach to identify and mitigate disparities in the routine clinical setting. This consensus scientific statement summarizes and clarifies available evidence while providing guidance on addressing inequities in the era of emerging anticancer therapies.

Mid- and long-term risk of atrial fibrillation among breast cancer surgery survivors.

BACKGROUND: The risk of incident atrial fibrillation (AF) among breast cancer survivors, especially for younger women, and cancer treatment effects on the association remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the risk of AF among breast cancer survivors and evaluate the association by age group, length of follow-up, and cancer treatment. METHODS: Using data from the Korean Health Insurance Service database (2010-2017), 113,232 women newly diagnosed with breast cancer (aged ≥ 18 years) without prior AF history who underwent breast cancer surgery were individually matched 1:5 by birth year to a sample female population without cancer (n = 566,160) (mean[SD] follow-up, 5.1[2.1] years). Sub-distribution hazard ratios (sHRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) considering death as a competing risk were estimated, adjusting for sociodemographic factors and cardiovascular/non-cardiovascular comorbidities. RESULTS: BCS had a slightly increased AF risk compared to their cancer-free counterparts (sHR 1.06; 95% CI 1.00-1.13), but the association disappeared over time. Younger BCS (age < 40 years) had more than a 2-fold increase in AF risk (sHR 2.79; 95% CI 1.98-3.94), with the association remaining similar over 5 years of follow-up. The increased risk was not observed among older BCS, especially those aged > 65 years. Use of anthracyclines was associated with increased AF risk among BCS (sHR 1.57; 95% CI 1.28-1.92), which was more robust in younger BCS (sHR 1.94; 95% CI 1.40-2.69 in those aged ≤ 50 years). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that younger BCS had an elevated risk of incident AF, regardless of the length of follow-up. Use of anthracyclines may be associated with increased mid-to-long-term AF risk among BCS.

Differential Expression of Circulating miRNAs and Carfilzomib-Related Cardiovascular Adverse Events in Patients with Multiple Myeloma.

This study investigates the association between circulating microRNA (miRNA) expression and cardiovascular adverse events (CVAE) in multiple myeloma (MM) patients treated with a carfilzomib (CFZ)-based regimen. A cohort of 60 MM patients from the Prospective Observation of Cardiac Safety with Proteasome Inhibitor (PROTECT) study was analyzed. Among these, 31 patients (51.6%) developed CVAE post-CFZ treatment. The Taqman OpenArray Human microRNA panels were used for miRNA profiling. We identified 13 differentially expressed miRNAs at baseline, with higher expressions of miR-125a-5p, miR-15a-5p, miR-18a-3p, and miR-152-3p and lower expression of miR-140-3p in patients who later developed CVAE compared to those free of CVAE, adjusting for age, gender, race, and higher B-type natriuretic peptide levels. We also identified three miRNAs, including miR-150-5p, that were differentially expressed in patients with and without CVAE post-treatment. Additionally, five miRNAs responded differently to CFZ treatment in CVAE vs. non-CVAE patients, including significantly elevated post-treatment expression of miR-140-3p and lower expressions of miR-598, miR-152, miR-21, and miR-323a in CVAE patients. Pathway enrichment analysis highlighted the involvement of these miRNAs in cardiovascular diseases and vascular processes. These findings suggest that specific miRNAs could serve as predictive biomarkers for CVAE and provide insights into the underlying mechanisms of CFZ-CVAE. Further investigation is warranted before these findings can be applied in clinical settings.

Cardiotoxicities of Non-Chemotherapeutic Metastatic Breast Cancer Treatments.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Although mortality rates have declined significantly in recent years, breast cancer remains the second most common cause of cancer death in women, with rates significantly higher among women with metastatic disease. New therapeutic agents have improved the prognosis of patients with metastatic breast cancer but raise concerns around the risk of cardiovascular disease. This review aims to discuss the oncologic treatment of the different subtypes of breast cancer along with the cardiac complications associated with each therapy. RECENT FINDINGS: This article emphasizes human epidermal growth factor receptor targeted therapies with a focus on incidence of cardiotoxicity, reversibility, long-term outcomes, and management in high-risk patients. This review will address the use of cardiac biomarkers to monitor for toxicity, as well as the utility of cardiac imaging, including global longitudinal strain as a prognostic factor. We will also include recent findings on tyrosine kinase inhibitors, cyclin dependent kinase 4/6, and immune checkpoint inhibitors. Cardiotoxicity may lead to premature discontinuation of novel cancer therapies; optimizing cardiovascular risk factors and close monitoring for cardiotoxicity allow patients to maximize their oncologic and cardiovascular outcomes.

Incidence, risk factors, and mortality of atrial fibrillation in breast cancer: a SEER-Medicare analysis.

AIMS: The national incidence, risk factors, and associated mortality of atrial fibrillation (AF) in breast cancer patients are unknown. METHODS AND RESULTS: Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare-linked database, we identified females, ≥66 years old, with a new primary diagnosis of breast cancer from 2007 through 2014. These patients were individually matched 1:1 to Medicare enrolees without cancer, and each pair was followed for 1 year to identify a primary outcome of AF. Cumulative incidence was calculated using competing risk survival statistics. Following this, identifying risk factors of AF among breast cancer patients was conducted using the adjusted Cox proportional hazards model. Finally, Kaplan-Meier methods and adjusted Cox proportional hazards modelling were performed to estimate mortality in breast cancer patients with incident and prevalent AF. This study included 85 423 breast cancer patients. Among these 9425 (11.0%) had AF diagnosis prior to the breast cancer diagnosis. New-onset AF was diagnosed in 2993 (3.9%) patients in a 1-year period after the breast cancer diagnosis [incidence 3.3%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.0-3.5%, at 1 year; higher rate in the first 60 days (0.6%/month)]. Comparatively, the incidence of new-onset AF in matched non-cancer controls was 1.8% (95% CI 1.6-2.0%). Apart from traditional demographic and cardiovascular risk factors, breast cancer stage was strongly associated with the development of AF [American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) Stage II/III/IV vs. I: adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 1.51/2.63/4.21, respectively]. New-onset AF after breast cancer diagnosis (aHR 3.00) is associated with increased 1-year cardiovascular mortality. CONCLUSION: AF incidence is significantly higher in women after a breast cancer diagnosis. Higher breast cancer stages at diagnos are significantly associated with a higher risk of AF. New-onset AF in the new breast cancer diagnosis setting increases 1-year cardiovascular mortality but not breast cancer-related mortality. KEY QUESTION: What are the incidence, prevalence, risk factors and mortality outcomes of atrial fibrillation (AF) in a multi-ethnic representative United States cohort of breast cancer patients? KEY FINDING: Annual incidence for AF is 3.9% with highest rate in the first 60 days after cancer diagnosis. Cancer stage and grade are the strongest risk factors for AF. New onset AF after breast cancer increases all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. TAKE HOME MESSAGE: AF incidence is higher in breast cancer patients and is associated with later stage and grade at diagnosis of breast cancer. Involving cardio-oncology in those who develop AF after cancer diagnosis should be encouraged to improve their cardiovascular and overall prognosis.

Defining cardiovascular toxicities of cancer therapies: an International Cardio-Oncology Society (IC-OS) consensus statement.

The discipline of Cardio-Oncology has seen tremendous growth over the past decade. It is devoted to the cardiovascular (CV) care of the cancer patient, especially to the mitigation and management of CV complications or toxicities of cancer therapies, which can have profound implications on prognosis. To that effect, many studies have assessed CV toxicities in patients undergoing various types of cancer therapies; however, direct comparisons have proven difficult due to lack of uniformity in CV toxicity endpoints. Similarly, in clinical practice, there can be substantial differences in the understanding of what constitutes CV toxicity, which can lead to significant variation in patient management and outcomes. This document addresses these issues and provides consensus definitions for the most commonly reported CV toxicities, including cardiomyopathy/heart failure and myocarditis, vascular toxicity, and hypertension, as well as arrhythmias and QTc prolongation. The current document reflects a harmonizing review of the current landscape in CV toxicities and the definitions used to define these. This consensus effort aims to provide a structure for definitions of CV toxicity in the clinic and for future research. It will be important to link the definitions outlined herein to outcomes in clinical practice and CV endpoints in clinical trials. It should facilitate communication across various disciplines to improve clinical outcomes for cancer patients with CV diseases.

Recognition, Prevention, and Management of Arrhythmias and Autonomic Disorders in Cardio-Oncology: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association.

With the advent of novel cancer therapeutics and improved screening, more patients are surviving a cancer diagnosis or living longer with advanced disease. Many of these treatments have associated cardiovascular toxicities that can manifest in both an acute and a delayed fashion. Arrhythmias are an increasingly identified complication with unique management challenges in the cancer population. The purpose of this scientific statement is to summarize the current state of knowledge regarding arrhythmia identification and treatment in patients with cancer. Atrial tachyarrhythmias, particularly atrial fibrillation, are most common, but ventricular arrhythmias, including those related to treatment-induced QT prolongation, and bradyarrhythmias can also occur. Despite increased recognition, dedicated prospective studies evaluating true incidence are lacking. Moreover, few studies have addressed appropriate prevention and treatment strategies. As such, this scientific statement serves to mobilize the cardio-oncology, electrophysiology, and oncology communities to develop clinical and scientific collaborations that will improve the care of patients with cancer who have arrhythmias.

Cardiotoxicity as an adverse effect of immunomodulatory drugs and proteasome inhibitors in multiple myeloma: A network meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

We aim to determine the cumulative and comparative risk of cardiovascular events associated with different Immunomodulatory Drugs (iMiDs) and Proteasome Inhibitor (PIs) in Multiple Myeloma (MM) patients through pairwise and network meta-analysis. Electronic searches were conducted using Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Clinical Trial Registry (Clinical Trials.gov) up to May 2021. Phase 3 randomized clinical trials (RCTs) reporting cardiotoxicity in MM patients (newly diagnoses and/or relapsed) treated with iMiD and/or PI. Studies, where iMiD or PI was used alongside the chemotherapy versus placebo or no additional drugs (control) in the other arm were included. The primary outcome was the presence of cardiotoxicity after follow-up. Pairwise meta-analysis and network meta-analysis were performed using the frequentist's approach to estimate the odds ratio (OR). Twenty RCTs with 10,373 MM patients were included in this analysis. Eleven studies compared iMiDs with control, seven studies compared PIs with control, and two studies compared bortezomib against carfilzomib. CTACE high-grade (≥grade 3) cardiotoxic events were increased with iMiDs compared to their control counterpart (OR 2.05; 95% CI 1.30-3.26). Similar high-grade cardiotoxicity was also noted more frequently with PI use when compared to the control group (OR 1.67; 95% CI 1.17-2.40). Among the PIs, carfilzomib was associated with a maximum risk of cardiotoxicity (OR 2.68; 95% CI 1.63-4.40). There was no evidence of publication bias among studies. iMiDs and PIs, particularly carfilzomib, appear to be associated with increased risk of high-grade cardiovascular events in MM patients.

Cardiometabolic Consequences of Targeted Anticancer Therapies.

ABSTRACT: Cardiometabolic disease (CMD) is the most common preventable cause of death in the world. A number of components are included in the spectrum of CMD, such as metabolic syndrome/obesity, hyperglycemia/diabetes, dyslipidemia, and hypertension, which are independently associated with cardiovascular disease risk. These conditions often occur together, and patients with cancer frequently undergo treatments that can generate or worsen CMD. This review highlights and presents mechanistic and epidemiological evidence regarding CMD in 4 categories of anticancer medications, namely, mTOR/PI3K-Akt inhibitors, multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor, immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy, and endocrine therapy. Patients taking these medications need careful monitoring during therapy. There is a role for cardio-oncology and onco-primary care specialists in optimally managing patients at risk to mitigate CMD during treatment with these and other investigational anticancer medications.

Cardiotoxicity of Systemic Melanoma Treatments.

OPINION STATEMENT: Melanoma is the least common but most dangerous skin cancer, accounting for 75% of all deaths from a primary cutaneous malignancy, with incidence rates rising significantly over the last decade. Traditional treatments for melanoma including interferon and cytotoxic chemotherapy had marginal efficacy. With the advent of targeted and immunotherapies, the prognosis for patients with advanced melanoma has significantly improved including those with metastatic disease to the heart. BRAF and MEK inhibitors as well as immune checkpoint inhibitors have become front line therapy for eligible patients with metastatic melanoma and have led to long-term durable response and in some cases can be curative. Despite these oncologic advances, various treatment-limiting side effects can occur. In particular, cardiovascular toxicities can contribute to overall morbidity and mortality in these patients. Toxicities range from asymptomatic QT prolongation and mild LV dysfunction to fulminant myocarditis and potentially life-threatening arrhythmias. A multidisciplinary approach to the care of these patients which includes cardio-oncology evaluation is necessary to develop both risk mitigation and treatment strategies to ensure patients continue receiving necessary and effective melanoma treatments while minimizing long-term adverse cardiovascular effects.

Length of stay and cost of care associated with admissions for atrial fibrillation among patients with cancer.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to assess the burden of AF-related hospitalizations inclusive of inflation-adjusted cost-of-care and length-of-stay (LOS) among cancer patients and the impact of direct current cardioversion (DCCV) on these outcomes. METHODS: Using the National Inpatient Sample (NIS), patients hospitalized with either a primary or secondary diagnosis of AF and comorbid cancer were identified and both cost of hospitalization and LOS were evaluated for each group. Subgroup analyses were performed for specific cancer types (breast, lung, colon, prostate and lymphoma), and those receiving DCCV. RESULTS: The prevalence of co-morbid AF was 8.2 million (16%) and 35.5 million (10%) among those with vs. those without cancer, respectively (odds ratio = 1.6, 95% confidence interval = 1.5-1.7; P < 0.001). Over time, both primary and prevalent AF admissions among those with comorbid cancer increased from 1.1% and 12.3% in 2003 to 1.5% and 21% in 2015, respectively. The total cost of hospitalization increased 94.4% among those with AF and comorbid cancer compared to 23.9% among those without cancer. Among the subgroup of patients with comorbid cancer and primary admission for AF undergoing DCCV, length of stay (2.7 vs. 2.2 days; P < 0.001, model 1) and cost of care ($7,093 vs. 6,152; P < 0.001) were both significantly higher. CONCLUSIONS: AF related admissions are increasing for all populations especially amongst those patients with a comorbid diagnosis of cancer, including all cancer subtypes evaluated. Among those patients who underwent DCCV, cancer patients had longer length of stay and increased health care costs.

Atrial Fibrillation and Cancer Patients: Mechanisms and Management.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Cancer-related mortality has significantly declined over the past several decades as a result of improved screening, diagnostics, and therapeutics. Although cancer patients and survivors are living longer, there is increased risk of both short-term and long-term cardiovascular complications, including arrhythmia. In this review, we highlight the current evidence detailing the connections between atrial fibrillation and cancer, provide insight into the mechanisms driving this relationship, and share practical considerations for the management of atrial fibrillation in cancer patients and cancer survivors. RECENT FINDINGS: Atrial fibrillation is an increasingly recognized condition among cancer patients, with epidemiological data showing increased incidence and worse outcomes in patients with cancer. Studies also describe a bidirectional relationship between cancer and atrial fibrillation, attributable in part to shared risk factors but also potentially due to shared biology. Cancer treatment-associated arrhythmia is an active area of investigation, with ongoing research to identify the mechanisms and pathophysiology behind this phenomenon. Furthermore, management of atrial fibrillation in patients with cancer presents unique challenges, particularly in management of anti-coagulation. Cancer patients have increased risk of developing atrial fibrillation due to the shared risk factors and biology of the two conditions. Moreover, various cancer therapeutics are known to be arrhythmogenic; however, mechanisms remain unclear. Further research is needed to better understand the pathophysiology of atrial fibrillation in cancer patient in order to establish prevention and treatment strategies specific to this population.

Arrhythmic Complications Associated with Cancer Therapies.

Over the last several decades, advancements in cancer screening and treatment have significantly improved cancer mortality and overall quality of life. Unfortunately, non-cancer-related side effects, including cardiovascular toxicities can impact the continued delivery of these treatments. Arrhythmias are an increasingly recognized class of cardiotoxicity that can occur as a direct consequence of the treatment or secondary to another type of toxicity such as heart failure, myocarditis, or ischemia. Atrial arrhythmias, particularly atrial fibrillation (AF) are most commonly encountered, however, ventricular- and bradyarrhythmias can also occur, albeit at lower rates. Treatment strategies tailored to patients with cancer are essential to allow for the safe delivery of the cancer treatment without affecting short- or long-term oncologic or cardiovascular outcomes.

Training and Career Development in Cardio-Oncology Translational and Implementation Science.

Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death in cancer survivors, after recurrence of the primary tumor or occurrence of a secondary malignancy. Consequently, the interdisciplinary field of cardio-oncology has grown rapidly in recent years to address the cardiovascular care needs of this unique population through clinical care and research initiatives. Here, the authors discuss the ideal infrastructure for training and career development in cardio-oncology translational and implementation science and emphasize the importance of the multidisciplinary cardiovascular team for both research and patient care. Cardio-oncology training opportunities in general cardiology, hematology/oncology, and specialized cardio-oncology clinical and research fellowships are also considered.

Early Apixaban Use Following Stroke in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation: Results of the AREST Trial.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: It is unknown when to start anticoagulation after acute ischemic stroke (AIS) from atrial fibrillation (AF). Early anticoagulation may prevent recurrent infarctions but may provoke hemorrhagic transformation as AF strokes are typically larger and hemorrhagic transformation-prone. Later anticoagulation may prevent hemorrhagic transformation but increases risk of secondary stroke in this time frame. Our aim was to compare early anticoagulation with apixaban in AF patients with stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) versus warfarin administration at later intervals. METHODS: AREST (Apixaban for Early Prevention of Recurrent Embolic Stroke and Hemorrhagic Transformation) was an open-label, randomized controlled trial comparing the safety of early use of apixaban at day 0 to 3 for TIA, day 3 to 5 for small-sized AIS (<1.5 cm), and day 7 to 9 for medium-sized AIS (≥1.5 cm, excluding full cortical territory), to warfarin, in a 1:1 ratio at 1 week post-TIA, or 2 weeks post-AIS. RESULTS: Although AREST ended prematurely after a national guideline focused update recommended direct oral anticoagulants over warfarin for AF, it revealed that apixaban had statistically similar yet generally numerically lower rates of recurrent strokes/TIA (14.6% versus 19.2%, P=0.78), death (4.9% versus 8.5%, P=0.68), fatal strokes (2.4% versus 8.5%, P=0.37), symptomatic hemorrhages (0% versus 2.1%), and the primary composite outcome of fatal stroke, recurrent ischemic stroke, or TIA (17.1% versus 25.5%, P=0.44). One symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage occurred on warfarin, none on apixaban. Five asymptomatic hemorrhagic transformation occurred in each arm. CONCLUSIONS: Early initiation of anticoagulation after TIA, small-, or medium-sized AIS from AF does not appear to compromise patient safety. Potential efficacy of early initiation of anticoagulation remains to be determined from larger pivotal trials. Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/; Unique identifier: NCT02283294.

Cardiovascular Events in Men with Prostate Cancer Receiving Hormone Therapy: An Analysis of the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).

PURPOSE: The comparative cardiovascular risk profiles of available hormone therapies for the treatment of prostate cancer is not known. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We queried the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System, a retrospective, pharmacovigilance database, for cardiovascular adverse event reports in men with prostate cancer receiving gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists, GnRH antagonists, androgen receptor antagonists, and/or androgen synthesis inhibitors from January 2000 to April 2020. RESULTS: Cardiovascular adverse events accounted for 6,231 reports (12.6%) on hormone monotherapy and 1,793 reports (26.1%) on combination therapy. Arterial vascular events were reported most commonly, followed by arrhythmias, heart failure, and venous thromboembolism. Compared to GnRH agonists, GnRH antagonists were associated with fewer cardiovascular adverse event reports as monotherapy (adjusted reporting odds ratio [ROR]=0.70 [95% CI 0.59-0.84], p <0.001) and as combination therapy (ROR=0.47 [0.34-0.67], p <0.0001), driven by reductions in arterial vascular events. Second generation androgen receptor antagonists and abiraterone were associated with more reports of hypertension requiring hospitalization (ROR=1.21 [1.03-1.41], p=0.02 and ROR=1.19 [1.01-1.40], p=0.03, respectively), and more heart failure events when used in combination with GnRH antagonists (ROR=2.79 [1.30-6.01], p=0.009 and ROR=2.57 [1.12-5.86], p=0.03). CONCLUSIONS: In this retrospective analysis of a pharmacovigilance database, arterial vascular events were the most commonly reported cardiovascular adverse events in men on hormone therapy for prostate cancer. GnRH antagonists were associated with fewer reports of overall cardiovascular events and arterial vascular events than GnRH agonists. Additional study is needed to identify optimal strategies to reduce cardiovascular morbidity among men with prostate cancer receiving hormone therapy.

The Role and Impact of Social Media in Cardio-oncology During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To give an overview of the role of social media (SoMe) in cardio-oncology during the COVID-19 pandemic. RECENT FINDINGS: SoMe has been critical in fostering education, outreach, awareness, collaboration, dissemination of information, and advocacy in cardio-oncology. This has become increasingly evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, during which SoMe has helped share best practices, community, and research focused on the impact of COVID-19 in cardiology and hematology/oncology, with cardio-oncology at the interface of these two subspecialty fields. A strength of SoMe is the ability to amplify a message in real-time, globally, with minimal investment of resources. This has been particularly beneficial for the emerging field of cardio-hematology/cardio-oncology, a field focused on the interplay of cancer and cardiovascular disease. SoMe field especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. We illustrate how social media has supported innovation (including telemedicine), amplification of healthcare workers' voice, and illumination of pre-existing and continued health disparities within the field of cardio-oncology during the pandemic.

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance in immune checkpoint inhibitor-associated myocarditis.

AIMS: Myocarditis is a potentially fatal complication of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI). Sparse data exist on the use of cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) in ICI-associated myocarditis. In this study, the CMR characteristics and the association between CMR features and cardiovascular events among patients with ICI-associated myocarditis are presented. METHODS AND RESULTS: From an international registry of patients with ICI-associated myocarditis, clinical, CMR, and histopathological findings were collected. Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) were a composite of cardiovascular death, cardiogenic shock, cardiac arrest, and complete heart block. In 103 patients diagnosed with ICI-associated myocarditis who had a CMR, the mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was 50%, and 61% of patients had an LVEF ≥50%. Late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) was present in 48% overall, 55% of the reduced EF, and 43% of the preserved EF cohort. Elevated T2-weighted short tau inversion recovery (STIR) was present in 28% overall, 30% of the reduced EF, and 26% of the preserved EF cohort. The presence of LGE increased from 21.6%, when CMR was performed within 4 days of admission to 72.0% when CMR was performed on Day 4 of admission or later. Fifty-six patients had cardiac pathology. Late gadolinium enhancement was present in 35% of patients with pathological fibrosis and elevated T2-weighted STIR signal was present in 26% with a lymphocytic infiltration. Forty-one patients (40%) had MACE over a follow-up time of 5 months. The presence of LGE, LGE pattern, or elevated T2-weighted STIR were not associated with MACE. CONCLUSION: These data suggest caution in reliance on LGE or a qualitative T2-STIR-only approach for the exclusion of ICI-associated myocarditis.

Exercise Interventions in Cardio-Oncology Populations: A Scoping Review of the Literature.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac toxicity in patients with cancer results from treatment-related damage to the cardiovascular system by chemotherapy, targeted agents, or thoracic radiation. Cardio-oncology patients with co-occurring cancer and cardiovascular disease frequently experience fatigue. Exercise is recommended in clinical guidelines to manage fatigue during or after cancer treatment. PURPOSE: The purpose of this article is to conduct a scoping review of the exercise randomized clinical trials in cardio-oncology patients, focusing on the components and effects of exercise interventions on patient cardiovascular and fatigue outcomes. METHODS: A scoping review methodological framework was deemed appropriate and used. Key words for search included "cancer," "oncology," "cardio-oncology," "heart failure," "physical activity," and "exercise." Search involved systematic searches of large databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, Cochrane Review, and CINAHL) and hand searches of reference lists, key journals, webpages, and experts in the field using snowballing techniques. RESULTS: There were 12 randomized clinical trials included in this review. Study characteristics, accordance of exercise protocols with recommendations, specific exercise training components, and cardiovascular and fatigue outcomes were mapped. CONCLUSIONS: Recommendations for addressing the gaps included focusing on non-breast-cancer patients with cardiac toxicity risks, developing precision-based prescriptions based on various medical and physiological characteristics, and adding fatigue symptom experience as an outcome variable.